TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 7:12; Romans 13:8-10
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TODAY IN THE WORD
A group of city officials and reporters gathered at a Chicago railroad station one day in 1953 to meet Dr. Albert Schweitzer, famed missionary doctor and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

As Schweitzer emerged from the train, cameras flashed and officials surged forward with hands extended. Schweitzer thanked them politely, then asked to be excused. He went to an elderly woman who was struggling with two suitcases, picked them up, and with a smile escorted the woman to her bus. Then he returned to his reception with the apology, ""Sorry to have kept you waiting.""

Dr. Schweitzer showed what it means to love another person as oneself. His simple gesture was a living example of the ""golden rule."" He treated that elderly woman as if she was his own mother--doing for another what he would want done for himself.

Generations of American schoolchildren grew up memorizing the golden rule. While today some may not be familiar with its biblical moorings, in today's passage Jesus set it firmly in the context of God's revealed Word in the Old Testament.

The last part of this great verse, while not often quoted, is key to this principle. Elsewhere Jesus summed up ""the Law and the Prophets"" by pointing to our love for God and love for our neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40).

Here, He focuses on the second half of that concept, saying this rule sums up all that the Old Testament teaches about how we are to treat others. His teaching takes Matthew 7:12 out of the realm of a nice, warm thought and moves it into the realm of a divine command.

Once again, the apostle Paul perfectly reflects the teaching of his Lord. He goes so far as to say that loving others, which is really the heart of the golden rule, is a ""debt"" we owe. He also says it fulfills the Law.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Simple, daily kindnesses that used to be so common and mean so much have fallen on hard times these days.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 7:13-14
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TODAY IN THE WORD
There is a new terror on the streets today: umbrellas.

Giant um-brellas are creating minor havoc on narrow sidewalks. According to a recent report, umbrella manufacturers are bulking up their product, increasing the diameter of umbrellas until they are big enough to pose ""protocol and right-of-way"" problems on narrow sidewalks. People trying to walk down a narrow road find themselves getting poked, prodded and jabbed, to say nothing of getting their hats knocked off.

We've all experienced walking against the crowd down a busy sidewalk. Making your way past people, shopping bags and heavy winter coats can be frustrating.

In the physical as well as the spiritual realm: the more narrow the road--or sidewalk--the more roadblocks you're likely to encounter. In today's lesson we are reminded that when you take the narrow way, you're more likely to face obstacles.

Like the ""golden rule,"" the ""straight and narrow way"" is so well known that it has become a part of our language. And like the ""golden rule,"" it has lost a lot of its original clout. But Jesus spoke frankly of the choices we must make.

The two roads we read of today are the first in a series of couplets with which Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount. In the next verses, we will examine what Jesus has to say about two religious professions, two trees, and two builders.

The challenge for Jesus' original hearers, and for us, is to make sure we are on the right side of this ""continental divide."" On one side is the broad road, the way of self-indulgence and pleasure. When we follow the wide path, we meet with little if any resistance. It's easier to walk with the crowd than against it. But what the crowd does not realize is that this road leads to ""destruction""--a biblical term for hell.

The narrow road is the way of Christ. This road requires self-denial and carrying our cross. The only gate to this road is Christ Himself.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you know someone who is traveling the broad road that leads to eternal destruction?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 7:15-20
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TODAY IN THE WORD
When Woodrow Wilson was president of Princeton University, he was asked to address a group of concerned parents. Opening the meeting, he said: ""I get many letters from you parents about your children. You want to know why we people up here at Princeton can't make more out of them and do more for them...The reason is that they are your sons, reared in your homes, blood of your blood, bone of your bone. They have absorbed the ideals of your homes. You have formed and fashioned them. They are your sons. In those malleable, moldable years of their lives you have forever left your imprint upon them.""

Ouch! The truth must have stung those Princeton parents. Although Wilson said he was not trying to be rude, he cautioned his audience that they may be shocked by the truth of why their kids turned out the way they did.

What Woodrow Wilson did was give those people the upscale, Ivy League version of an old saying, ""You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."" Jesus gives us the original, biblical version in today's passage.

Jesus weaves together two images, one from the pasture and one from the orchard. Wolves may be able to disguise themselves as sheep and mingle with the flock, but not at feeding time. Then you can tell the difference because real sheep eat grass. Wolves eat sheep. The same is true at harvest time. If a tree is bad, you'll know it when good fruit is due to appear. Bad trees can't generate good fruit.

This is why Jesus gives His people permission to be ""fruit inspectors."" We may be prohibited from judging other people's inward motives, especially if our motive in judgment is hypocritical. But there is no prohibition against measuring professing Christians by what their lives produce.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Testing our own fruit is a healthy and necessary exercise.

What fruit should we see in our lives if we are truly trying to live for Christ? The fruit of the Spirit is the first thing that comes to mind (Gal. 5:22-23). Then there is ""the fruit of [our] lips,"" praise and worship to God (Heb. 13:15). Holy living is another (Rom. 6:22), as are the good works we are urged to do (Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:10).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 7:21-23
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Shop in any supermarket and you'll find that it is getting more and more popular to be a fake.

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharine have taken the place of real sugar. Lunch meats, from salami to bologna, are now being made from turkey. There are dairy substitutes for everything from cream to cheese. And a new substance called ""olestra"" has suddenly taken the place of fat.

But we don't always welcome these substitutions. Any newly engaged young woman would be devastated to discover that the glimmering rock on her finger was not a diamond, but a cubic zirconium.

Jesus has the ability to recognize fakes. He wants us to be certain that our lives and our faith are the real things, not empty substitutions.

In today's passage, He emphasizes that many people will call Him Lord, but not all of these people will enter the kingdom of heaven. Why? He explained that many people can ""talk the talk"" when it comes to religious profession. They can even claim to have done some pretty remarkable deeds in Christ's name. In fact, many people who have settled for religion in place of salvation are capable of significant service, and no doubt many others are helped through their efforts.

But deeds of any kind are no substitute for repentance from sin and faith in Christ. They never have been (Eph. 2:8-9). Even when others assume that these beliefs are the real thing, and applaud their example, approval on its own means nothing.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We can fool ourselves, too, if we're not careful. Yesterday, we encouraged you to test the fruitfulness of your Christian life against a biblical list of qualities God wants to see us develop. This subject is important enough for another day of consideration.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 7:24-27
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In Book I of his allegorical work of Christian pilgrimage, The Faerie Queene, poet Edmund Spenser has his hero, the Red Cross Knight, encounter a series of challenges and obstacles to faith. In one episode, the Knight visits the House of Pride. At first, the House appears to be grand and beautiful--a shining gold castle with flags waving crisply from the towers. The Red Cross Knight is welcomed and served a fine meal.

But all is not as it seems. The ""gold"" turns out to be painted on, and peeling off at that. The impressive appearance is only a facade, since the city is largely made up of rotting buildings. Ugly dungeons lie beneath the castle. Most telling, the whole place is built upon a foundation of sand.

Spenser draws this allegorical detail directly from the parable in today's reading. While the two houses in Jesus' story may appear the same at first glance, one is firmly founded on the rock while the other is unstably built on sand.

What the Savior says here is a perfect ending to this great sermon. The tone and general theme of the entire message has been that mere outward works, or the right words, are no substitute for true righteousness.

It is only the person who ""hears these words of Jesus and puts them into practice"" (v. 24) who is wise in God's eyes. Jesus' half-brother, the apostle James, said the same thing in memorable terms (James 1:22-25).

In the case of these two houses, they appeared to be the same. No one could tell the difference as they sat on their foundations. The two men may even have used identical building materials.

But the foundations of the two houses were radically different. The first was built on the ""rock,"" Jesus Christ Himself (1 Cor. 10:4). Once the storm hit, the true character of these homes was revealed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you read this today, it may be that a storm is battering your spiritual house.

Fierce storms are always frightening, but if your life is built on the rock, Jesus assures you that He will not let you be swept away. Today, claim the wonderful promise of God's Word that He will not allow more to come upon you than you are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 7:28-29
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Although Mark Twain was no churchman, the great author once attended a service and congratulated the pastor on his message. But he couldn't resist a jab.

""I welcomed [the sermon] as an old friend,"" Twain told the pastor. ""I have a book at home containing every word of it.""

The pastor bristled at the suggestion that he had parroted someone else's thoughts and words. But Twain persisted, so the pastor asked to see the book. The next day Twain sent him an unabridged dictionary. We're not told how the pastor responded to Twain's humor.

While Twain may have been technically right in his assertion, we know, of course, that his charge had no merit. The Pharisees probably would have appreciated Twain's cleverness. They liked to have all of their bases covered.

For any issue that came up, they could be sure there was something on it in the writings of their tradition. Their philosophy was that the best surprise was no surprise. They weren't out to amaze anyone, and they seldom did.

But wherever He went, Jesus provoked amazement among the people of Israel. They listened with astonishment to His teachings, and there can be no doubt that the Sermon on the Mount is an astonishing message.

Given the religious teachings these people were accustomed to, we can understand why their eyes widened and their mouths dropped in shock when they heard Jesus say, ""You have heard that it was said...But I say to you."" They were used to the Pharisees and other authorities, who were largely content to quote from their tradition.

In doing what He did, Jesus not only claimed to overrule the Jews' religious tradition. He claimed to do so on no other authority but His own. This was surprising because He had no religious credentials as far as the recognized authorities were concerned. No wonder the Pharisees considered Him a menace.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Read Matthew 8 and you'll see that Jesus went from teaching with authority to demonstrating His power by His works.

That's really where we need to pick up after finishing the Sermon on the Mount. We don't have miracle-working power as Jesus did, but we are commanded to go in His name and to demonstrate His love, grace and power to the world.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Chronicles 29:10-20
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. - 1 Chronicles 29:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jaakov Topor, an Israeli baker, was well-known for his delicious cinnamon cake. Many asked him for the recipe, but he always refused. “[H]e vowed he would never tell anyone while there was still breath in his body,” said his grandson. When he died last year, mourners arrived at the funeral and found, much to their surprise, that the recipe for the famous cake had been etched onto his gravestone!

The question of legacy is far more important than even the most delicious dessert. David's “last words” are the focus of today's reading. He didn't die right after uttering them, of course, but they represent his official, for-the-record final public communication. That's why these words are the thematic core of the book of 1 Chronicles, and indeed of David's entire life.

How appropriate, given David's passion for worship, that he began with a brief psalm of praise and ended with congregational worship. Verses 10-13 are a poetic (and probably musical) fireworks display of the glory of God. We read who He is, attribute upon attribute, until we're lost in breathless awe at His splendid and everlasting sovereignty. But He is not distant—He is “our” God.

God had enabled the people to give generously toward the construction of the temple. While prayers over offerings at the average church today are usually perfunctory, David's inspiring prayer included humility, trust, and thankfulness. The Israelites had previously been wanderers, but God had graciously blessed them with a homeland, safety, and prosperity (vv. 14-17). The returned exiles reading or hearing Ezra's words might have rejoiced at this point!

Finally, David prayed for Solomon and the nation to remain faithful and committed to the Lord (vv. 18-19). History had shown that integrity and joy today could give way to faithlessness tomorrow.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our fourth spiritual legacy suggestion is to write out your “last words” in your spiritual diary or journal. The end of your life might come suddenly, and the “perfect speech” you'd like to make may not be possible. But you have time today to think things over and let history know exactly what you'd like to say. Pondering the meaning of our lives in this way can make a difference in how we live out our remaining days (God knows how many).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:3-5; Ephesians 4:25
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TODAY IN THE WORD
When Dwight L. Moody was in London during one of his famous evangelistic tours, several British clergymen visited him. They wanted to know how and why this poorly educated American was so effective in winning throngs of people to Christ. Moody took the three men to the window of his hotel room and asked each in turn what he saw. One by one, the men described the people in the park below. Then Moody looked out the window with tears rolling down his cheeks. ""What do you see, Mr. Moody?"" asked one of the men.

""I see countless thousands of souls that will one day spend eternity in hell if they do not find the Savior.""

Obviously, D.L. Moody saw people differently than the average observer does. And because he saw eternal souls where others saw only people strolling in a park, Moody approached life with a different agenda.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to see people differently, too. That's true of how we view the world and people, and it's also true of the way we view one another in the body of Christ.

The New Testament often uses the metaphor of the body to describe the vital unity believers have in Christ. We are not simply members of the same organization. We are members of the same body, the living body of Christ. That makes us as much a part of one another as are the members of a physical body. We belong to Christ and to one another.

God's Word builds upon this basic truth of unity. Because we as believers belong to one another, we need to treat others with special honor and respect. That's why the New Testament is filled with commands to show a Christlike attitude toward one another. This month, we'll be studying these commands with the goal of learning better how to live as Christ would have us live. We're the body, He's the Head!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes the most difficult people for us to get a clear focus on are those closest to us.

For a few minutes, think your way through the names of those members of your Christian family with whom you spend the most time. Is there someone in that group who makes you ""see red,"" a person who is difficult to deal with? This would be a good day to ask God to help you begin seeing that person through the eyes of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 5:18-21
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TODAY IN THE WORD
After the civil war in seventeenth-century England had ended and Oliver Cromwell was leading the nation, he ordered all troops in the British army to carry a Bible.

One young soldier bristled. He had joined the army for good times, not to be a ""Bible-toter."" But he submitted to the order and stuffed the Bible in his pocket. Later, after a battle, he discovered that the Book had stopped a bullet aimed at him. The bullet had penetrated to Ecclesiastes 11:9, a warning of God's judgment on youth. The message was too plain for the young soldier to miss, and he put his faith in Christ.

We can't guarantee that if you practice biblical submission to authority you will be spared from all of life's ""bullets."" But we can promise you, on the authority of Scripture, that obedience to this ""one another"" command will bring blessing. God always honors obedience.

If there is one word that causes discomfort and spurs resistance within human nature, it is ""submission."" From the world's point of view, the name of the game is power. Battling for control and position is what is valued. Who would willingly place himself under someone else's authority?

While the idea of submission makes no sense to the world, obeying Ephesians 5:21 is an opportunity for believers to show reverence for Christ. Submission to one another is the way the church of Jesus Christ is designed to function. We are all under authority to God-appointed spiritual leaders; and our leaders are called to exercise loving, servant leadership.

The world's idea of submission is a caricature of the biblical concept. Biblical submission is not a ticket to weakness and defeat. Neither is it meant to be one-sided or heavy-handed. What keeps submission from being one-sided is its mutuality. What keeps it from being heavy-handed or authoritarian is the example of Christ, who ""loved the church and gave Himself up for her"" (Eph. 5:25).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Everyone in the military knows that an officer is not qualified to give orders until he or she has learned to take orders.

Ministry in the body of Christ is not just about giving and taking orders. But as God's people we must offer willing, joyful submission to those who lead us, in the church and in the home, for their sake and our own (Heb. 13:17).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:13;
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TODAY IN THE WORD
You may never have heard of a whelk, but this little ocean creature can ruin an oyster's day. The whelk has an appendage that works like an augur, with which it can bore a small hole in the top of an oyster's shell. Through this very small hole a whelk can devour an entire oyster, sucking it out little by little until the oyster is gone.

That's a pretty good picture of how we can allow the actions and words of others to rob us of our peace. But it doesn't have to happen that way.

As believers, we are exhorted to live in peace with one another. Paul and Peter both use the related idea of ""harmony"" (Rom. 12:16 and 1 Pet. 3:. The Bible recognizes that there is much we can do to build and maintain peace among ourselves and other Christians. A good starting point is the ""one another"" command we studied yesterday--submitting to one another in reverence to Christ.

An attitude of submission is the opposite of a prideful spirit. It's not a coincidence that Paul turns immediately from the command to live in harmony to this exhortation: ""Do not be conceited"" (Rom. 12:16b). The apostle Peter makes the same link between peace and humility of spirit: ""Be compassionate and humble"" (1 Pet. 3:8b).

The connection is clear. Humility and compassion result in peace among members of Christ's body, while pride and arrogance produce strife and jealousy.

Someone might note that since we are talking about the ""one another"" passages of Scripture, these qualities need to flow in both directions. That's true. Still, although we cannot control the actions of others, we must take responsibility for our own obedience to these biblical commands.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Romans 12:14-21 is a very practical portion of Scripture. In these verses the apostle gives us a tremendous list of steps we can take to avoid hostility and build harmony. Consider this checklist of peace-creating actions: 1. Return blessing for ill-treatment. 2. Share with other believers in their joys and sorrows. 3. Refuse pride. 4. Do what is right. 5. Refuse to take revenge.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3-4
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Arlington National Cemetery has been rightly called ""America's memorial."" The Tomb of the Unknowns, honoring all men and women who died serving their country, is guarded twenty-four hours a day by sentinels from the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry stationed at Fort Meyer, Virginia. The changing of the guard occurs every half hour in summer and every hour during the fall and winter, and the guards take their duties seriously. One soldier says, ""Being a tomb guard is the highlight of my career. This comes from my heart.""

Our nation's military has always done an outstanding job of honoring its comrades. While the church doesn't need to post sentinels or put up memorials, we do need to take our job of honoring one another just as seriously.

It's amazing how the Bible's ""one another"" commands build on themselves. We've already discussed the practice of submission and the pursuit of peace, and these are very helpful for one who is intent on honoring other believers rather than on grabbing the spotlight.

We have a good biblical example in 1 Thessalonians of what Paul means by this command. He urged the church at Thessalonica to respect their spiritual leaders, to ""hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work"" (1 Thess. 5:12-13).

Honoring one another doesn't mean we have to wear ourselves out patting other believers on the back or compete to see who can issue the most compliments. Paul gives us the heart of this command in Philippians 2, where he contrasts honoring others with pushing to get ourselves noticed and praised.

We honor other believers when we look out for their interests. This may mean helping another Christian to succeed, whether we get credit or not. It may involve setting aside our desires or priorities to extend a helping hand to a brother or a sister in need.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we pointed out yesterday, a key idea behind the ""one anothers"" is that of mutuality.

This means it works both ways. Has another believer ever done something to honor you above himself or herself? Your answer is probably ""yes""--unless you live alone on an island!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Pe
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TODAY IN THE WORD
British novelist P.G. Wodehouse dreaded casual social events; but his wife, Ethel, loved to give parties. During one party, some late-arriving guests were confronted at the door by Wodehouse himself rather than by the butler. Although he recognized the group as friends, Wodehouse put out his hands, gesturing for them to go away. ""Don't come in,"" he said. ""Don't come in. You'll hate it!""

That's certainly one way to ""greet"" people we care for, but it's not recommended for believers! On several occasions, Paul urged his readers to greet one another with a kiss which he termed ""holy,"" which lifted it out of any sensual context. Peter called it a ""kiss of love,"" underscoring the value of genuine affection among God's people.

The practice of greeting others with a kiss was nothing new in the apostles' day. The Jews traditionally greeted one another this way. How valuable was this greeting? Jesus once reprimanded a host with these words: ""I came into your house...[but] you did not give me a kiss"" (Luke 7:44-45). As He said this, our Lord was being ministered to by a prostitute who was wiping His feet with her hair and kissing them. Jesus approved of her actions (vv. 44-46) and chided His host for failing to show the expected sign of greeting and honor.

Many Asian and Middle Eastern cultures still practice the kiss of greeting today. It has long since passed out of custom in the Western church, however, at least as a cultural practice used to indicate respect and affection.

So how can we obey this injunction of Scripture? Some say that a handshake or a hug is our culture's version of the ""holy kiss."" Others have attempted to practice the kiss, although it feels culturally strange and doesn't carry the same significance for us. Complicating matters is the fact that for many in our sexually sensitive society, a kiss can send some wrong messages.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way to express affection and appreciation is with a handwritten note.

We may have good intentions along these lines, but too often our plans don't translate into actions. So why not put a blank note card or piece of stationery and envelope in your Bible today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 14:7-13
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Novelist John Steinbeck's wife once brought him a paperback book called, appropriately enough, John Steinbeck. In it the author purported to comment on Steinbeck's life and work. Steinbeck, who often felt he had been misinterpreted by commentators, read the book with great interest, then remarked, ""This book doesn't seem to be about me, but it's pretty interesting about somebody.""

Famous authors never seem to lack for people who think they understand perfectly well what was in the authors' minds and hearts as they wrote. The fact that they miss the mark so often and so badly reminds us of the difficulty of judging other people's motives.

Discerning the inner motives of others is more than difficult. Sometimes, it's next to impossible--and when we misjudge, we can do a great deal of damage. That's why the Bible forbids us to pass judgment on one another.

Jesus' famous prohibition against judging others has itself often been misinterpreted. Matthew 7:1-5 prohibits the kind of hypocritical judgment that ascribes evil motives to others while the person doing the judging harbors even worse motives and attitudes.

Paul also focused on the issue of motive, as shown by the context of today's ""one another"" verse: Romans 14:13. The situation in Rome centered around questions concerning ""disputable matters"" (Rom. 14:1). We might call them matters of conscience or of personal conviction, such as diet (vv. 2-3).

When another Christian does not see eye-to-eye with us on an issue we feel strongly about, it's easy to make a snap judgment about that person's spirituality. Or when a fellow Christian makes a decision that is obviously wrong--meaning the opposite of what we would have done--it's tempting to say, ""Well, she did that only because...""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you ever find yourself offering your ""opinion"" (i.e., judgment) on why other Christians do what they do? We've all done so.

If you're a parent, you know how it hurts when your child accuses you of being cruel or unfair when you've made a decision you believe is in that child's best interest. That's how much it hurts when we misjudge others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 14:1-4; 15:1-7
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Thomas J. Watson, Sr., died six weeks after naming his son as the new head of IBM, the company the elder Watson had led for more than forty years. The junior Watson said his promotion made him ""the most frightened man in America."" But he took the helm and led IBM into the computer era and ten-fold corporate growth. His success was made possible, he said later, by his dad's confidence in and acceptance of him during his college years, when he was more interested in flying airplanes than in studying or applying himself.

That father's attitude exemplifies the attitude Paul wants believers to have: ""Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you"" (Rom. 15:7). Without pressing the analogy too far, the young Thomas Watson, Jr., resembles many new believers: immature, somewhat weak and easily distracted, with much to learn.

What such believers need is not to be slapped down, but to be guided and strengthened. How should we respond? ""We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak"" (15:1) is the principle Paul is unfolding here.

We saw yesterday that not passing judgment on others is often hard, especially if we have a strong conviction about the point under discussion. This is the other side of the coin. Instead of judging, we are to accept other Christians the way Christ accepted us, with all of our shortcomings and problems.

But don't misunderstand. Paul is not talking about a wishy-washy, open-ended acceptance that simply overlooks any and every foible and failure. The goal of supporting and accepting other Christians is ""to build [them] up"" (15:2) so that they may have endurance to run the Christian race (v. 4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The other half of Jesus' acceptance is that while He accepted us just as we were, He did not leave us just as we were. He is working to change and sanctify us to be increasingly like Him.

Our goal of building up other believers is similar. Acceptance of other Christians sets the stage for growth and maturity and is designed to strengthen weak spiritual muscles. That makes acceptance a wonderful gift you can give another Christian, especially one whose faith is new.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 15:14-16; Colossians 3:16
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TODAY IN THE WORD
After a distinguished performing career, virtuoso violinist Jascha Heifetz accepted an appointment as professor of music at UCLA. Asked what had prompted his change of career, Heifetz replied: ""Violin playing is a perishable art. It must be passed on as a personal skill; otherwise it is lost.""

We need to listen to this great musician. Living the Christian life is a highly personal experience. We can't pull it off merely by watching skilled veterans ""perform."" We need hands-on instruction.

The church has always honored and valued its great teachers, but the reality is that God has called every believer to help pass along the faith. We are not all blessed with the spiritual gift of teaching, but nonetheless God has made us ""competent to instruct one another"" (Rom. 15:14).

There are actually two concepts represented in today's text. The word ""instruct"" can also be translated ""admonish,"" as it is translated in Colossians 3:16. The core idea is that of counseling, encouraging, or warning people. One Bible teacher calls this ""spiritual and moral counseling.""

Paul expressed his confidence that the believers at Rome were mature enough to carry out this ministry with one another. The qualifications are twofold: ""full of goodness [and] complete in knowledge"" (Rom. 15:14).

In Colossians 3, the apostle adds the more formal word for teaching. But again, the use of ""one another"" means we can't leave all the teaching in the body of Christ to those for whom teaching is a full-time calling. Notice the qualification for teaching and admonishing one another. The word of Christ must ""dwell in you richly"" if you want to have something to pass along.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We can thank God for those He has sent our way to counsel, warn and instruct us in the faith.

Look back for a minute. Can you recall that Sunday School teacher, pastor or Bible club leader who first opened your heart and mind to the treasures of God's Word? If so, pause to offer God a word of gratitude and praise for that special person.